The Best Salt Water Chlorinator for Your Pool

The primary advantage is the significantly better swimming experience. Salt water pools (or salt chlorinated pools) use the chlorinator to continuously create chlorine from salt, resulting in softer, gentler water that is kinder to skin and eyes. This eliminates the harsh chemical smell and reduces the need to constantly buy, handle, and add liquid chlorine.

Converting your pool to saltwater is a straightforward process. You simply need to install the Water TechniX Atomic chlorinator (which takes less than an hour for DIYers) and add the recommended amount of pool salt to your water. The existing chlorine will dissipate quickly, and the new chlorinator will take over sanitizing the pool immediately.

Yes, absolutely. The Water TechniX Atomic is designed for total flexibility. It works perfectly with traditional salt (sodium chloride) and the newer, more luxurious magnesium/mineral blends. This means you can change your pool from salt to magnesium anytime without needing a new unit.

The size is determined by the maximum volume of your pool in liters. We recommend choosing a model that is rated slightly higher than your pool's actual volume, especially if you live in a hot climate (like Queensland or Western Australia). For example, if your pool is $45,000L$, choose the WTA25 (up to $50,000L$) for standard use, or the WTA35 (up to $75,000L$) for extra performance headroom. You can use our Pool Size Selector above to find the recommendation.

Unlike chlorine, salt is not consumed during the sanitization process; it remains in the water. You only need to add salt to a salt water pool when water is lost due to splashing or backwashing. We recommend testing your salt levels monthly during peak season. The Atomic chlorinator's control panel has a salt level indicator to help you monitor this easily.

If your pool is turning green, the first step is always to shock it to kill the swimming pool algae. The Atomic features a powerful Boost mode that maximizes chlorine production to rapidly raise the chlorine level, effectively shocking the water and helping to clear a green pool overnight. For a quick, non-chlorine boost, we recommend using a product like our Oxi Shock found in the section above.

The lifespan of a salt water chlorinator cell depends on usage and maintaining proper water balance, but Atomic cells are high-quality and generally last 3 to 5 years under normal operating conditions. The unit has built-in diagnostics to warn you when cell efficiency drops, and we stock genuine replacement cells year-round, as shown in the "Spare Parts" section.

Based on customer salt water chlorinator reviews, the Atomic series consistently ranks highly for its robust Australian-made power pack, low running costs, and unique dual compatibility with both traditional salt and magnesium minerals. For the combination of features, reliability, and value, many pool owners consider it the best salt water chlorinator available.